Wonderwoods' technical masterpieces

In the heart of Utrecht stands Wonderwoods, a project that brings to the city as much nature as architectural innovation. It is the combination of aesthetics and precision that makes this project so special. "We have been involved in the facades of the tallest of the two towers since 2020," says Marcel Peeters, project manager at Vorsselmans. "Now, 4.5 years later, Wonderwoods stands like a house. It was a challenging, but wonderful process."

Based just across the Belgian border, Vorsselmans has broad expertise in aluminum windows, doors and complex facade constructions. From private homes to large-scale projects such as hospitals, schools, offices and utility housing, the company has developed into a versatile player in the market. "We operate in the Netherlands, Belgium and the United Kingdom, which gives us a lot of flexibility," Peeters says. 

High-end sight gags

At Wonderwoods, Vorsselmans was responsible for the aluminum frames, glazing and curtain walls of the tallest tower. "The building consists of three facade typologies: smaller frames in precast concrete elements, larger balcony frames in HSB elements and curtain walls on the ground, first and seventh floors," explains Peeters. "Each component was designed and manufactured with precision, with as many as 120 unique window frames for this one project. The plinth curtain walls look minimalistic, but were quite a puzzle. In fact, the superimposed facades stagger in depth from one another. In between is a horizontally continuous strip of flashing. Around and behind that strip, many technical issues and tolerances converge. The anchoring of the wooden slats also had to have a place here."

Additionally, the rainwater drainage system is integrated into the façade. Both horizontally and vertically, providing a sleek finish with no visible drainage pipes. "Details like that make the design clean and sleek, but also require enormous complexity in execution. The trick is to make it look simple," Peeters said.

Technical pride

What also makes the project unique is the innovation applied by the Vorsselmans team to get everything right down to the last detail. "A seemingly simple adjustment, such as developing a project-specific profile for the window frames, paid off enormously," Peeters says. "It allowed us to create technically better and aesthetically pleasing connections with the other building components. The inevitable deviations due to product and construction tolerances were better camouflaged as a result. Something that really made a difference in the total of 1,100 window frames."

Wonderwoods not only enriches Utrecht, but also puts Vorsselmans' craftsmanship in the spotlight. "There have been few projects that have been talked about as much as Wonderwoods. It is not only the beautiful design, but it is also the technical feats that make this project a unique landmark," Peeters concludes.